The 2026 PWHL Draft eligibility list is officially out, and while most of the 235 names were expected—headliners like Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, and Abbey Murphy from the NCAA, plus European stars Petra Nieminen, Viivi Vainikka, and Andrea Brandli—a few declarations caught everyone off guard. Here are five players who surprised the hockey world by throwing their names into the ring.
1. Meghan Agosta (39 years old, Canada)
The three-time Olympic gold medalist clearly still feels the competitive itch. It's hard to imagine any team using an early pick on Agosta, who hasn't played meaningful games since 2018. But she's stayed active in the game while working as a police officer. Declaring gives her a chance to walk into camp with Vancouver—her now hometown—and prove she belongs. Her résumé is Hall of Fame-worthy, and even a brief PWHL comeback would be the perfect cherry on top.
2. Elisa Holopainen (24 years old, Finland)
When Holopainen re-signed with Frolunda in the offseason, most assumed her PWHL hopes were on hold. Not so fast. She had a coveted out clause and is now a top prospect expected to go in the first two rounds. Holopainen led the SDHL in goals this season with 24 and was named league MVP last year. She's already won Olympic bronze and multiple World Championship medals with Finland. The big question was whether she could handle the physicality, but after two seasons in Sweden, she's grown by leaps and bounds. Her declaration is great news for the league, which is now set to welcome Finland's top forwards not already in the PWHL.
3. Russian talent pipeline opens up
After Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova joined the league this season, the door is opening wider. Russian players are starting to see the PWHL as a viable destination, and this draft could see more names from that region enter the mix.
4. A veteran with unfinished business
One veteran player who had seemingly stepped away from high-level hockey surprised everyone by declaring. While she hasn't played in the PWHL before, her experience and leadership could make her a valuable late-round pick or training camp invite.
5. A young star who chose to wait
A promising young player who was expected to stay in college for another year instead declared early, shaking up draft projections. Her decision adds depth to an already loaded draft class and gives teams another dynamic option to consider.
These five declarations prove that the 2026 PWHL Draft is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing yet—full of surprises, veteran comebacks, and international talent ready to make their mark.